Boost For India Ahead Of T20 World Cup: Virat Kohli Shows Uptick In Strike-Rate, Spin Game In IPL 2nd Half

Star Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and India batter Virat Kohli continues to prove his undeniable mettle as a T20 player amid the divisive views by fans, cricket experts and former players, giving Men in Blue a boost ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup 2024, which will take place in West Indies and USA this year from June 1 onwards. Continuing his fine run with the bat and indicating that he can hit big from ball one if needed, Virat played a solid knock of 27 in just 13 balls against Delhi Capitals (DC) on Sunday.

His knock had a four and three massive sixes and a strike rate of over 207. A huge part of this knock was his back-and-forth with compatriot and pacer Ishant Sharma, someone who has been around Virat since his academy days. Both exchanged jokes, shared laughs and tried to get one-up on each other before a fine delivery by Ishant was nicked by Virat straight into the hands of wicketkeeper Abhishek Porel.

In the ongoing season, Virat is the Orange Cap holder for most runs, making 661 runs at an average of 66.10 and a strike rate of 155.16, with a century and five fifties. His best score is 113*. RCB, who has made a remarkable comeback in the tournament with five successive wins after a horrid win-loss record of 1-6 in the first half, will need Virat to be at his best against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in their final league game at Bengaluru on May 18 for a chance at playoffs.

Often being questioned on his strike rate, Virat has swung back at his critics in his signature fashion, ditching boundaries in favour of huge sixes and passing verbal jabs at naysayers during post-inning or match presentations.

In the first six games of the tournament, Virat scored well at a healthy strike rate. He made 319 runs in his first